Journal of Management and Economics
19
https://eipublication.com/index.php/jme
TYPE
Original Research
PAGE NO.
19-28
OPEN ACCESS
SUBMITED
29 March 2025
ACCEPTED
23 April 2025
PUBLISHED
30 May 2025
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue05 2025
COPYRIGHT
© 2025 Original content from this work may be used under the terms
of the creative commons attributes 4.0 License.
Economic Development: A
Modern Perspective on
Human Resources
Hayder Talib Mousa
Al-Muthanna University, College of Administration and Economics, Iraq
Ahmed Salman Hamza
Al-Muthanna University, College of Administration and Economics, Iraq
Abstract:
The topic of practical economic development
is the most important from an economic perspective.
With the significant development in production tools
and technological advancements, there is a real need to
reconsider this concept and identify the basic
requirements for maximizing theoretical thinking in
developing economic resources, particularly human
resources, which constitute the backbone of successive
economic development. It has become clear to
economic thinkers that possessing human capital
trained and equipped with the latest technologies is one
of the most important weapons for finding rapid
solutions
to
advance
economic
development.
Possessing capital is no longer of great importance
compared to possessing intellectual capital, which
keeps pace with economic development with various
modern, creative ideas that possess innovation and
renewal to move the economy forward. On this basis,
the researcher concluded that the basic principles of
economic development are based on the modern ideas
possessed by the human element. The researcher
recommended that developing countries focus on
creating innovation by developing scientific research
systems in research centers, universities, and public and
private institutes to advance economic development in
accordance with the modern perspective of
sustainability.
Keywords:
Economic Development - Human Resources
- Economic Freedom.
Introduction:
Importance of the research: The
importance of the research stems from its examination
of one of the most prominent economic concepts that
continues to suffer from neglect in developing
countries: the human element. This element plays a
Journal of Management and Economics
20
https://eipublication.com/index.php/jme
Journal of Management and Economics
fundamental and important role in advancing
economic development across various economic
sectors.
Research objective:
The research aims to address the
basic concepts of economic development, focusing on
human resources, to clarify the modern role of this
element in the economic development process in light
of the economic transition toward a free economy and
the spread of the principles of economic democracy
Research Problem: The research problem lies in the
fact that the potential for economic development
relies on a significant set of economic elements.
However, there is no unified guide for countries to
implement to advance this vital component, which
impacts the sustainability of life and the achievement
of economic prosperity.
Research Hypothesis:
The research is based on the
hypothesis that the application of modern concepts in
economic development has a profound impact on
achieving the highest levels of development through
the optimal use of human resources.
Introduction: Harmony and understanding between
the components of development are among the
fundamental pillars that create creativity and
economic development. This topic is of great
importance at the present time. Over time, we notice
that most developing countries are trying to reach
advanced levels through production processes, but
they primarily rely on modern technologies imported
from the West (developed countries). On this basis,
some economies have been distinguished by their
reality of renaissance and development. Perhaps the
Japanese and Chinese experiences are the best
evidence, as the human element played a fundamental
role in the development of these economies, which
allowed them to be among the ranks of developed
countries within two decades. Therefore, developing
economies can have a significant role in the economic
development process if they shift attention to the
human element by supporting the projects, ideas, and
innovations that this element provides and developing
them to serve the economic process. This is done by
providing stimulating factors for this element to
advance the reality of development and eliminate the
process of economic dependency and reliance on
others. Section One: The Economic Limits of
Development
First: The Concept and Importance:
The narrow concept of development thinking focuses
on the amount of average income an individual
receives, which entails an increase in the average per
capita income, and this increase should be Real, not
monetary, and that this increase should be long-term.
Development ideas also emphasized changing the
economic structure and framework in developing
countries and distributing income in favor of the poor.
These ideas also focused on diversifying the goods and
services produced. However, these ideas and theories
failed because they focused on the human element as a
means to achieve purely economic goals, neglecting it
as both a means and an end. (Ajamiya: 2011: 59)
Human development, however, is not merely an
economic endeavor or economic growth, but rather a
comprehensive, complex endeavor. Growth of a
particular type does not occur without changing other
types, such as relations of production and distribution,
livelihood opportunities, and their conditions. In other
words, human development is an integration of social
dimensions, the essence of which is social liberation;
economic dimensions, the essence of which is the
liberation and development of productive forces; and
political dimensions, the essence of which is the
diversity of power, expanding the scope of elected
representatives' participation and opportunities in this
participation, liberating state decisions, and deepening
state policy. (Abdel-Moati: 2001: 28)
Growth and development come about through gradual,
slow development, while human development requires
strength. A driving force that moves human capabilities,
transforming people from a state of stagnation and
decline to a state of movement and progress. Therefore,
human development is growth or increase based on
sound scientific foundations, measured by three
dimensions: people, space, and time. If one of these
dimensions is neglected, development will be distorted.
Therefore, human development transcends the
boundaries of economics and economic growth and
encompasses all aspects of the process of change in
society, including raising production levels by devising
new, better production methods than before, and
increasing the accumulated capital in society over time
by developing human skills and energies as both a
means and an objective of development. Furthermore,
human development does not only involve specific
economic changes, but also encompasses significant
changes in the economic and social fields, the
development of transportation and communication, the
advancement of financial institutions, the improvement
of health and education levels, and life expectancy, as
well as the increase of leisure time, environmental
protection, and cultural freedom Second: The market
and the state. There is a significant difference between
free-market governments and governments that
intervene heavily in these markets. Free-market
governments provide a minimum of laws that guarantee
economic security and stability and the provision of
public services without providing price subsidies, while
Journal of Management and Economics
21
https://eipublication.com/index.php/jme
Journal of Management and Economics
governments that intervene heavily by imposing
restrictions on domestic and foreign trade and price
controls. The debate surrounding the optimal degree
of state intervention in economic life has focused on
the tension resulting from the failure of state economic
policies. However, numerous literatures have
advocated for the necessity of state intervention to
compensate for the market's shortcomings in
addressing issues of fairness, gender equality,
environmental
conservation,
and
others.
(Development Report: 1995: 15)
The market economy, based on the experiences of
capitalist countries, has remained unable to provide a
radical solution to the problem of distribution and
mitigate its growing social disadvantages, despite
success in achieving economic growth and
technological progress. The issue of distribution has
been left to the efforts of political leaders to change
social values in order to establish social guarantees for
low-income earners and the unemployed, using the
public financial surpluses generated by the state. (Al-
Saadi: 1999: 36)
The dominance of the market economy The market in
developing countries has revealed serious flaws in the
management and organization of the economy.
Market forces tend to achieve self-interest, leading to
the acceleration of the conversion of natural resources
into physical capital, which has exacerbated
environmental exploitation. Furthermore, the market
economy offers incentives and incentives to bypass
and weaken governance systems. Privatization has also
proceeded rapidly, bypassing the specific nature of the
economy and the nature of its development (Banuri
1999:2)
Therefore, the state has increased its degree of
intervention in economic activities, including in
capitalist countries whose systems assume a pure
form. The capitalist system evolved from a model of
perfect competition to monopolistic competition, with
the emergence of trade unions hampering market
forces. This led to state intervention in economic life,
which played a significant role in the development
process. The most important reasons for state
intervention in economic activities can be summarized
as follows:
1. The recurrence of long-term economic crises in
capitalist countries, which market forces were unable
to address, particularly the 1930s crisis, when market
forces were unable to address the depression and
unemployment. The significant developments in
military aspects, which require significant resources
and capabilities that are difficult for the private sector
to handle, required the state to assume the task of
carrying them out. (Khalaf 1986: 22)
2. In developing countries, market shortcomings render
the market incomplete, leading to the failure to achieve
full and efficient market utilization, in addition to the
inability of market forces to establish projects
Productivity is linked to development, as private sector
resources are directed toward high-profit, rapid, and
low-risk projects, far from achieving public benefit.
3. State intervention increases in socialist countries
through planning. This is due to the state owning a
substantial portion of projects, especially those
governing economic activities, with the aim of directing
them toward desired outcomes.
State intervention in the capitalist system has played a
crucial role in economic development and has achieved
some
significant
accomplishments.
(Benayoun,
2011:126)
A. The social welfare achieved by the working class in
the first half of the twentieth century, resulting from
political commitment.
B. Large-scale investments and the expansion of
technological frontiers. These investments have not
aroused the interest of the private sector, despite its
lack of financial resources, as it prefers guaranteed
profits from its projects, as large investments do not
yield profits in the short or medium term.
Sinfer Wansari believes that state intervention is
constructive and more important in achieving
development. He gives the example that the Korean
government's complete control over the banking sector
had a significant impact on directing resources for
investment purposes according to sectors and priorities
related to economic activities (according to different
interest rates). Furthermore, the rapid development of
the industrial sector and exports of industrial goods in
Taiwan during the 1960s and 1970s were subject to
customs restrictions on import items and direct
government control. In addition to the belief in the
importance of the state's role in achieving rapid
economic development and driving the development
process in developing countries during the 1950s and
1960s, including the World Bank and the International
Monetary Fund, economic planning, including
comprehensive planning, enjoyed general acceptance
and support at the time. Development writings at the
time frequently discussed development theories such as
Rosenstein's Big Push, Liebenstein's Sensitive Minimum
Effort Theory, and Arthur Lewis's Balanced Growth
Theory. All of these theories explicitly or implicitly
included
state
intervention.
However,
state
intervention in the present time is considered
reprehensible, and the state is often held responsible
for the failure of development as a result of its
Journal of Management and Economics
22
https://eipublication.com/index.php/jme
Journal of Management and Economics
intervention in an earlier stage. (Amin 2001:83)
After confidence in the classical approach (which was
prevalent during the nineteenth and early twentieth
centuries and was based on the principle of free
markets) weakened after the years of the Great
Depression due to its negative effects, influential
economists instead of emphasizing the failure of
market mechanisms and the need for conscious
intervention. By governments, governments in
socialist and developing countries in Latin America,
Africa, and parts of Asia began to blatantly interfere in
their local economies, negatively impacting their
economic growth and leading to economic imbalances
such as balance of payments deficits, high
unemployment rates, inflation, and other imbalances.
This led to calls for the adoption of economic reform
programs in many developing, socialist, and market-
economy countries. Calls for economic reform focused
on two elements: price adjustment and privatization.
Indeed, a surprising shift occurred in the ideology of
economic development in the mid-1980s.
From the perspective of the concept of human
development, it acknowledges the existence of a crisis
affecting development models based on state
intervention and those based on free markets.
Therefore, the debate based on the absolute trade-off
between free markets and state intervention is flawed
and unhelpful. Historical experience has proven that
models of state intervention are unsustainable in the
long term and have failed in practice. Furthermore, the
market and its mechanisms do not take into account
the interests of the poor or respect the requirements
of environmental renewal, and therefore cannot be
sustainable in the long term. Therefore, human
development recognizes the legitimacy of the
developmental role of market forces. Government
intervention focuses on providing essential goods and
services that the private sector is unable to provide and
that are not subject to the principle of exclusion or the
principle of competitive consumption, such as security
and defense. It also focuses on correcting imbalances
that may characterize markets, achieving social justice,
combating poverty, ensuring a dignified life, and
protecting the environment. (UNDP: 1995, 2000, 2001,
83, 89, 93)
Some also believe that achieving certain strategic goals
requires the formulation of clear policies by the state,
relying on official state efforts, and relying on society
(civil society). This should be done according to a
scientific approach based on a specific ideology to
achieve the desired goal and move, as possible, from
the undesirable to the desirable. It can be concluded
from the above that an appropriate mechanism must
be found to achieve a balance between market
freedom and state intervention. (Shawky: 1991: 43)
To achieve a state of equilibrium, there are certain
things the state must do in the event of market failure.
The most important of these can be summarized as
follows: (Attia: 2003: 283 1. There is no definitive
agreement among economists and thinkers regarding
the role that government should play in a market
economy. The role played by government in developing
countries with a market economy differs from the role
played by government in a developed country.
However, there are broad areas of common ground
between these divisions regarding the role that
government should play in a market economy.
2. The role of government in a free market economy is
limited to addressing market failures. Therefore, this
role includes creating an economic environment
conducive to growth, intervening to improve income
distribution, working to achieve economic stability in
the short and long terms, taking the necessary measures
to combat monopolies, protecting the environment and
emerging industries, and providing public goods.
3. Government intervention is not justified when there
are market imperfections, unless its benefits outweigh
its costs and provided that the free market mechanism
is not disrupted as much as possible.
4. It is recommended that welfare programs be limited
to those unable to work, such as children and the
elderly. Other groups eligible for support should be
assisted by increasing their ability to work through
support for education, health, training, and wage
subsidies in the private sector.
5. The government's efforts to achieve economic
stability should not be limited to using demand-side
policies alone, but should extend to supply-side policies
that stimulate productivity improvements and diversify
the production structure.
6. The government must adopt the concept of
sustainable development, as applied studies have
proven that government legislation and adherence to its
implementation are an effective tool for cleansing the
environment of pollution resulting from the side effects
of market activities, provided that they do not disrupt
market mechanisms.
One of the state's duties is to provide public goods at
the socially desirable level, as the market economy is
unable to provide them. Among the most important
non-traditional types of public goods are child
protection, providing information related to public
health and safety, and undertaking research,
development, and training programs in areas that serve
small producers who lack the capacity to do so.
Journal of Management and Economics
23
https://eipublication.com/index.php/jme
Journal of Management and Economics
Second: Components of Sustainable Development.
Based on the Human Development Reports, four
interconnected and interdependent components of
sustainable human development can be identified.
These components serve as policy standards and goals
that must be achieved on a global scale, depending on
the circumstances of each country and society. These
components are:
Equity.
Equity is one of the most important components of
sustainable human development, as it focuses on
fairness and equal opportunity among people. The
term "equity" is used here as an alternative to the
terms "equality" and "justice." It is closer to the social
discourse prevalent in previous eras, which means:
(Kyprisi 2002:27)
A. Transparency, information, participation, achieving
justice, ensuring citizenship, freedom of expression,
civil society, civil peace, promoting alternatives,
democracy in administration and education, and
formulating fateful decisions.
B. The fundamental priorities of human rights,
children's rights, women's rights, equality, combating
torture, terrorism, and corruption.
C. Natural resource management, sustainable forest
management, reducing illegal trade, containing
environmental hazards, and the consequences of war
and militarism to preserve the interests of future
generations. In other words, equity exists within a
single generation and between future generations. The
concept of equity differs from the concepts of equality
and justice in that it focuses on equal opportunities
and adheres to the principle of individual responsibility
for benefiting from them. The fourth principle,
adopted by the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro
in 1992, emphasized the necessity of realizing the right
to development, whereby the developmental and
environmental needs of present and future
generations are met equally (Mossent: 2008: 17)
According to Mahboub al-Haq's perspective, the
concept of equity, if limited specifically to equal access
to opportunities, requires a radical restructuring of
power relations in society. This includes:
a. Amending the distribution of ownership of
productive assets, particularly through agrarian
reform.
b. Introducing structural changes in the distribution of
the tax burden by adopting progressive taxes, aimed at
redistributing income from the rich to the poor.
c. Reforming the credit system so that the poor and
small business owners can benefit from it.
Third: Between problems and solutions:
Some believe that the results generated by economic
development are both positive and negative. In other
words, development is a double-edged sword. The
positive aspects of development include significant
material and technological progress, improved
standards of living, and increased interconnectedness
across the world thanks to the revolution Information
and communications. As for the negative aspects, the
rapid scientific progress that accompanies development
leads to the development of means of satisfaction.
Regardless of the level of well-being a person attains,
they are constantly in need of change and replacement,
as what they possess today quickly becomes obsolete
tomorrow, leading to increased spending and waste.
Therefore, consumption patterns play an important role
in achieving or hindering human progress (Goulet: 1993:
472). Furthermore, the rapid technological progress of
developed countries leads to an increased dependence
on developing countries, as they fail to catch up with
them in terms of technological progress. This leads them
to resort to borrowing to import this technology from
abroad, in addition to the destruction of the
environment and the accompanying pollution, which
limits the possibility of continued development.
Traditional growth and development models produce
negative outcomes, such as environmental problems,
discrimination against women, and social crises. These
negative outcomes are taken for granted when adopting
this model. The primary goal of the capitalist model is to
achieve the maximum possible profit for investors by
selling goods at prices significantly higher than
production costs. Therefore, the basic law includes a
clear goal: maximizing profit through production
methods that achieve the lowest possible costs, even if
this comes at the expense of environmental
degradation and depletion. Furthermore, a significant
portion of the workforce in the capitalist system is
unemployed. Unemployment leads to a lack of income,
which in turn creates poverty, which causes numerous
environmental
problems.
The
poor
live
in
environmentally fragile areas where potable water and
sanitation services are unavailable, leading to
environmental pollution and increased environmental
problems. With the developments achieved by the
capitalist economy, monopolistic companies have
emerged, the negative consequences of which include
deepening disparities within societies and weakening
the authority of the state to the benefit of multinational
corporations. In addition to controlling the quantities of
goods and services produced, the technology applied,
and prices, these companies have made profit
regulation an inherent characteristic of their own,
burdening society with the losses resulting from
Journal of Management and Economics
24
https://eipublication.com/index.php/jme
Journal of Management and Economics
environmental destruction, unemployment, and social
disparities. Furthermore, they exploit the environment
to dispose of waste, under the pretext that it is difficult
to meet environmental considerations, which would
place them at a disadvantage compared to other
companies.
The capitalist system is limited to production and
consumption, without considering the social and
environmental consequences that harm society as a
whole. Their harms are not included in market
calculations. Economic goods are neither completely
consumed nor disappear with their use. In this regard,
they are disposed of either by reusing them in another
form or by permanently disposing of them in the
surrounding natural environment. The same applies to
goods that transform from solids to liquids or gases
with use. All aspects of consumption create massive
waste. This results in serious environmental and social
damage that goes beyond the depletion of resources,
but also extends to the generation of gases and
emissions, which exceed the natural capacity of the
environment and are transformed into harmful
substances that severely damage its delicate
composition. (Abdul Khaliq 1996: 62)
This also applies to the previous socialist system, which
was characterized by the satisfaction of social needs
regardless of profit. However, the environmental
problems in Eastern Europe are no better than in other
parts of the world. The actual implementation of this
system quickly revealed the existence of severe
pollution problems affecting natural resources. Levels
of dust, smoke, and carbon dioxide in some socialist
cities are deplorable, and most rivers in Ukraine and
Poland, for example, are severely polluted with salts
and waste emitted from coal mines.
We can say that environmental pollution is linked to
activity, regardless of the system in which it is
practiced. The capitalist system led to serious
environmental problems, while the socialist system, in
turn, produced similar problems that are no less
dangerous. The concept of human development seeks
to strengthen positive outcomes and overcome
negative
outcomes
by
strengthening
human
capabilities, enhancing and expanding their options,
and building social capital. It prioritizes the human
element as both a goal and a means, focusing on
education, training, health, and longevity.
Fourth: The Social Dimension
One of the important considerations when working to
achieve development is to prevent social unrest and
the corruption of desired ethical and social values and
standards. Development should also be avoided at the
expense of the cultural framework of society, such as
when the goal of development is material pursuits
without consideration of compassion, mutual aid, and
social solidarity. Development should also be pursued
within the broader social environment, or at the
expense of moral values, while ensuring that society
preserves its cultural and civilizational heritage,
especially its positive aspects.
The concept of human development implies a
comprehensive renaissance that does not stop at
economic growth. However, economic development, as
adopted by various capitalist forms, was limited to
meeting the requirements of correcting economic
structures. It then shifted toward what is called
economic reform after many development experiments
were frustrated. In light of the technological revolution,
the thinking of developed countries themselves has
shifted toward a phase of change A new path to growth
is achieved by modernizing capitalist systems to enable
them to move toward emerging sectors, given that they
drive development, even if this entails social harms,
which are no longer hidden from anyone. Therefore,
some believe that attention must be paid to the social
dimension and the adoption of the foundation of
building community organization, or what is called
social capital, as a basis for comprehensive
development, rather than focusing on modifying
economic structures. This social approach to
development became active during the last decade of
the twentieth century, when it was reduced to
addressing the problems created by the accepted
economic approach. Conscious engagement with the
social dimension achieves the benefits of adopting the
features of the prevailing economic phase without
incurring the losses caused by its negatives. Therefore,
consideration must be restored to the social dimension
by correcting the negative effects that result from it (Al-
Jabiri and Al-Imam: 1995: 151)
As for the relationship between economic activities and
environmental pollution, some view it from three
perspectives: first, the relationship between economic
activities and the waste and waste resulting from them;
second, the emerging environmental changes resulting
from this waste; and third, the social cost associated
with these changes in the natural environment (Al-Saidi:
1994: 2)
The concept of sustainable human development is
distinguished by Because it strongly integrates the social
dimension into the development process, it not only
includes efforts to empower individuals and expand
their options, but also encompasses social groups and
society as a whole, not individuals. Sustainability can
only be understood as a societal goal.
The new concept uses the term "social capabilities"
Journal of Management and Economics
25
https://eipublication.com/index.php/jme
Journal of Management and Economics
instead of "social capital." This distinction indicates
that the concept of sustainable development is not
limited to the reproduction of social capital as an input
to production, but rather concerns the reproduction of
society as a whole, encompassing all types of human
activity. This is achieved by enhancing the capacity of
human resources and developing them through
investment in education, health, and training to raise
their productivity and increase their contribution to
economic growth, including the critical role played by
women in economic and social activity. It also
emphasizes the role of the state in achieving social
justice by formulating the necessary policies to combat
poverty.
The new concept focuses on cooperation rather than
competition to catch up with advanced industrial
societies, where the wide gap between the rich North
and the poor South has grown. Wealth is increasing in
the North and poverty is increasing in the South. The
indicators of the 1996 Human Development Report
reflect this reality. Among the reasons for this
widening gap between the two poles is the lack of
cooperation on the part of the Arctic and its failure to
fulfill its commitment to provide the necessary
funding, such as financial aid at certain percentages of
its gross domestic product, to developing countries. It
also failed to provide sufficient knowledge and
technology, or to reduce the cost of debt service
provided by foreign financial institutions to developing
countries. The lack of this cooperation has led to a
failure to achieve sufficient economic and human
growth and development. (Al-Nashif: 2009: 3)
The Human Development Reports issued by the United
Nations focused on this cooperation, emphasizing the
importance of globalization in the development
process. However, they called for a globalization with
a human face, far removed from exploitation,
emphasizing the importance of people, not just profit,
and the use of modern technology to serve human
development and improve human conditions, as well
as access to basic education, healthcare, shelter, and
work. (Yassin: 2000: 7)
Section Two: Democratic Foundations and the
Importance of Participation in Its Creation
The concept of democracy has undergone significant
development
and
change
over
time,
but
contemporaries
almost
unanimously
define
contemporary democracy as "a system of neutral
mechanisms for the transfer and exercise of power
based on popular choice or elections." (United Nations:
2001:1)
Democracy has characteristics that can be identified as
follows:
1.
Democracy is a method, not a doctrine:
Democracy is a method for controlling power in society
so that public decisions can be made by those bound by
it. Far from being a comprehensive doctrine, it is a
method based on principles and institutions that enable
the political community to manage differences of
opinion peacefully. When democracy frees its method
of governance from rigidity, it becomes a practical and
realistic approach that takes into account the beliefs
and values of different societies, including religious,
historical, and cultural considerations.
2.
Contemporary Democracy as a Constitutional
Practice:
Democratic practice is not a method bound by the
constitution and religious laws. Rather, it is the values
that society brings and the achievement of desired
outcomes through a democratic system of government,
provided that it adheres to democratic principles and
ensures the functioning of the constitutional institutions
emanating from those principles. There are two
conditions for achieving constitutional democracy: the
first is achieving the principle of political equality among
citizens, and the second is arriving at a democratic
constitutional formula that takes into account the
considerations of various segments of society Most
Western countries rely on public opinion and mass
media to identify society's needs and opinions on
important public issues, strengthening the political
environment based on democratic governance. These
opinions and ideas often guide the political leadership's
behavior and increase interaction between society and
the center. However, in developing countries, the
situation is different, as most governing bodies are not
based on a popular base and lack democratic traditions
for the following reasons: (Al-Khatib 1998: 38)
A. The weakness of the legal structure, its ambiguity,
and its bias, to the extent that it prevents it from
adequately representing the rule of justice for the
community's movement.
B. The intellectual vacuum, which leads to a lack of
belonging and the failure to achieve the people's
aspirations.
C. The disintegration of the social system, the
multiplicity of patterns of loyalty, and the weakness of
national unity due to the dominance of certain
segments of society, who pursue their own interests
without regard for the well-being of other segments.
D. The weakness of the National Assembly because it is
not properly selected, resulting in a lack of trust
between the members of these councils and the
community.
E. The constitution is not implemented, and sometimes
Journal of Management and Economics
26
https://eipublication.com/index.php/jme
Journal of Management and Economics
suspended or amended according to individual
ambitions.
To establish the foundations of democracy in
developing countries, the following must be done:
a. Increase public participation in developing plans and
educate them about various communication methods,
which will have a positive impact on society.
b. Reduce social inequality among different segments
of society.
c. Adopt effective means to increase the effectiveness
of institutions in these countries, particularly
increasing
citizen
representation
in
national
assemblies to enhance citizens' confidence in the
strength of institutions.
d. Train personnel and select qualified individuals
capable of attracting popular participation in various
fields and setting priorities for economic and social
progress plans.
Human development enables people to fully
participate in decisions and mechanisms related to
their lives and destiny, with the aim of accessing
broader options and opening up new areas of work
through participation and listening to the perspectives
of all stakeholders in these decisions that reflect their
interests. Therefore, these decisions and mechanisms
must not be formulated in their absence. It is necessary
to strengthen this participation and enhance the role
of civil society organizations that influence the
decision-making process, focusing on the interests of
groups. Development is achieved by the extent of its
connection to the types of ideas embraced by human
power, the extent of its available freedom, and the
extent of its effective participation in its societies. This
allows for the formulation of strategic policies that
seek to completely eradicate illiteracy and disease,
improve public health, and develop creative capacities
by reconsidering education in terms of its policy,
structure, content, and objectives. This is achieved by
striving for the continuous development of capabilities
and the creation of new skills that society increasingly
needs with the increasing pace of scientific and
technological
development,
ensuring
optimal
investment. (Al-Tamimi: 2008: 54)
To achieve human development, reliance on intrinsic
capabilities is required, particularly the ability of
productive people to take into account the intrinsic
characteristics of the productive social unit, to work to
protect citizens' rights, support them in work, share
wealth and power, education, and opposition to ruling
regimes. This strategy must also be considered to
enable the grassroots to participate effectively in
planning effective projects, monitoring the distribution
of their revenues, and satisfying people's basic needs. If
well-planned, it can address many of the shortcomings
of centralized bureaucracy. The basic needs strategy
aims to meet these needs for all, whether they concern
material needs such as food, clothing, shelter, or fuel, or
social needs such as education and human rights,
through what is called "participation" in social life
through work and political commitment. (Al-Mustaqbal:
1999: 47)
The theoretical foundation of human development
focuses on integrating economic interactions with
social, political, and environmental changes, in addition
to emphasizing public participation in choice, planning,
and monitoring through:
a. Giving human development sufficient attention to
parallel development within the societal value system
and mechanisms for broad public participation,
provided that such participation is not one-sided in
nature, but rather closer to genuine development
approaches at the local and production unit levels,
creating new rules of conduct within the general context
of comprehensive theorizing.
b. Active participation in the ongoing dialogue
surrounding human development concepts and the
strategies and policy packages that may be built upon
them is required, led by multidisciplinary thinkers in a
creative theoretical interaction.
c. It also requires participating in the dialogue on
diversifying development indicators and establishing
the true relationship between the macroeconomic
policies of developing countries and their social and
environmental impacts. It can be said that human
development is achieved through broad public
participation in the development process and through
the presence of democratic governance systems that
promote such development Sixth: Economic Freedom:
Freedom means that a person has the right to choose
life through spiritual contemplation and reflection,
political freedom, freedom of expression, equality of
opportunity, and freedom under the rule of law
—
that
is, acceptance of the concept of human freedom.
Therefore, freedom entails a broader range of choices
for societies and their members, limiting external
constraints to achieve the desired goal of development.
Freedom also includes emancipation and liberation
from social slavery, ignorance, misery, unsound
institutions, and false beliefs, in order to maximize
freedom, choose greater comfort, and live a better life.
Freedom emerges as a fundamental and central concept
in the process of human development, as it is an
inherent right to a decent living materially, morally,
physically, and spiritually. Therefore, this entails (Nassar
2013:88)
Journal of Management and Economics
27
https://eipublication.com/index.php/jme
Journal of Management and Economics
1. Non-discrimination and equality among people,
considering that the concept of development
encompasses economic, political, social, religious,
national, linguistic, and gender considerations.
2. The concept of development has expanded to
include moral aspects such as freedom, the acquisition
of knowledge, respect for human dignity, and the right
to enjoy beauty. Therefore, development requires the
development of human capabilities to achieve well-
being and the rational use of human capabilities. In
other words, it is comprehensive development, not
just the fulfillment of basic human needs. Human
development includes the activation of social safety
nets to protect the poorest people, political freedom,
and social development, transformations that are
mutually beneficial. In other words, this development
option is a practical basis for expanding the options for
real freedoms enjoyed by people. Furthermore, the
issue of expanding the scope of freedoms includes
both the primary goal and the primary means, or the
foundational and performative role of freedom in
development. (Sen: 2004: 49)
Amartya Sen explains that development
–
progress
–
is
important in the information age and the world of
knowledge by establishing infrastructures that meet
modern requirements, including institutions, policies,
legislation,
civil
organizations,
networks,
communications, research and development, and
human empowerment for men and women. He states,
"Development
–
the process of evolving market
management, government departments, and relations
between the ruler and the ruled, legislative
institutions, political parties, non-governmental
organizations, judicial institutions, media, and
educational institutions
–
its contribution is realized in
reality through its impact on supporting and
strengthening the capabilities
–
the individual
freedoms of the human being, whether a child, a
woman, or a man." The concept of human
development emphasizes freedoms, thus adding
further support that enhances the sustainability and
continuity of human development, making it more
advanced and mature. The United Nations
Development Program emphasized the following
freedoms (Cypriot 2000: 28):
1-Freedom from discrimination based on gender and
race
2-Freedom from fear and threats to personal security,
torture, and arbitrary detention.
3-Freedom of thought, speech, and participation in
decision-making
4-Freedom from want
5-Freedom to develop and realize human potential
Freedom from injustice and violations of the rule of law.
7-Freedom to engage in decent work without
exploitation
CONCLUSIONS
1-Economic development is a comprehensive process
based on a set of components, the most important of
which is achieving integration between various
resources, which creates a competitive environment
that achieves the goals of the economic planner.
2-The issue of achieving human development is based
on increasing attention to creative and innovative
groups, which represents the true launching pad for
achieving technological development in various
economic activities, creating generations that keep pace
with the rapid economic development in the global
economy.
3-Human resources can play a crucial role in
transforming the economy from one reliant on
imported technologies to one reliant on local products,
which plays a crucial role in achieving economic
development.
4-Identifying successful experiences in the field of
human resources is one of the most important factors in
achieving the goals set by economic planners, to
promote comprehensive economic development and
achieve growth in a specific sector, which relies
primarily on the incentives provided by the government
to individuals working in various economic sectors..
5-Economic transformation is one of the most
important factors in successfully tracking the roles
through which economic development occurs, by
adopting modern economic freedom mechanisms and
modern methods to achieve desirable growth rates.
Recommendations:
1-The researcher recommends adopting modern
methods in economic development models that would
transform the economic reality from one stage to
another, one that is better than the previous one.
2-Increasing attention should be given to the creative
and innovative activities of individuals with creative
ideas aimed at achieving economic development in
various fields and activities that lead to a better growth
rate.
3-Adopting modern models in the areas of economic
freedom and providing the private sector with the
opportunity to play a fundamental and effective role in
achieving economic growth by adopting modern
4.economic development policies, represented by the
rapid technological advancements achieved by
advanced economies.
Journal of Management and Economics
28
https://eipublication.com/index.php/jme
Journal of Management and Economics
5-Formulating effective and advanced policies
characterized by flexibility that would advance
economic growth. This should be achieved by adopting
economic incentive methods, a youth initiatives
system, and
5-supporting entrepreneurial and youth projects to
advance human development and foster a spirit of
competition among individuals to achieve the
government's main objectives
REFERENCES
Atef
Abdullah
Qubursi,
"Sustainable
Human
Development in the Context of Globalization: The Arab
Challenge," ESCWA, United Nations, New York, 2000,
p. 28.
Kay
Muir
Lesche,
"Education,
Sustainable
Development
and
Change
Management,"
Development Policy Journal. U.N.D.P. Vol. Auqust
2002, p. 92.
F. Douglas Mostet, "Principles of Sustainable
Development," translated by Bahaa Shahin, op. cit., p.
17.
Lebanese
National
Report,
"On
Sustainable
Development - In Preparation for the Second Earth
Summit in Johannesburg," United Nations House,
Beirut, Lebanon, 2000, p. 18.
Mahboob ul Haq, "Concepts of Human Development,"
United Nations Development Programme, 1994, p. 22.
Human Development Report (1999), p. 166.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
(1996), Human Development Report 1996, p. 4.
Dr. Ahmad Wahban, "Political Backwardness and the
Goals of Political Development: A New Vision of the
Political Reality in the Third World," University House,
2002/2003, pp. 103-104.
Mahbub ul Haq, "Concepts of Human Development,"
2011, p. 229.
United Nations Development Program (UNDP) (1990),
Human Development Report, 1990, p. 23.
Othman Hashim, "UNDP Paper," Amman, at the
Symposium on Human Development in the Arab World
(Amman, April 10-11, 1994), p.
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for
Western Asia (ESCWA), Survey of Economic and Social
Developments, New York, 2005, p. 65.
Millennium Development Goals in the Arab Region
2005, United Nations, 2005, p. 9.
Dr. Muhammad Abd al-Aziz Ajima and Dr. Iman Attia
Nasif, "Economic Development," Theoretical and
Applied Studies, 2009, pp. 55-59.
Dr. Abd al-Basit Abd al-Muati, "In Alternative
Development: Studies and Issues," 1999, p. 28.
Sabry Zayer al-Saadi, "The Political Economy of
Development and Integration into the Capitalist
Market." Observations Drawn from Some Arab
Experiences, Al-Mustaqbal al-Arabi, Center for Arab
Unity Studies, Issue (249), 1999, p. 36.
Tariq Banuri and others, "Sustainable Human
Development:
From
Theoretical
Concept
to
Application," New York, ISCO, 1995, p. 2.
Dr. Falih Hassan Khalaf, "Economic Development," Dar
Al-Kitab Printing and Publishing Directorate, University
of Mosul, 1986, pp. 200-203.
Adriano Benayon, "Globalization is the Opposite of
Development: The Role of Transnational Corporations in
Marginalizing Developing Countries Through Foreign
Direct Investment," translated by Ali Hussein Al-Sudani,
reviewed by Dr. Imad Abdul Latif Salem, Bayt Al-Hikma,
Baghdad, 2002, p. 126.
Jalal Amin, "Development Theories: Science or
Doctrine?", Center for Arab Unity Studies, First Edition,
Beirut, 2001, pp. 50-51.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
(1998), Human Development Report 1998, p. 82.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
(2001), Human Development Report 2001, p. 93.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
(1996), Human Development Report 1996, p. 94.
United Nations Development Programme (1996),
Human Development Report 1996, p. 1.
Abdel Moneim Shawqi, "Society Development and
Organization," Modern Cairo Office, Cairo, 1991, p. 43.
Abdel Qader Mohamed Abdel Qader Attia, "Modern
Trends in Development," Alexandria University Press,
2002/2003, pp. 235-238.
Tariq Banouri et al., "Sustainable Human Development:
From Theoretical Concept to Practice," New York,
UNSCO, 1995, p. 2.
Adriano Benayon, "Globalization as the Opposite of
Development: The Role of Transnational Corporations in
Marginalizing Developing Countries Through Foreign
Direct Investment," translated by Ali Hussein Al-Sudani,
reviewed by Dr. Imad Abdel Latif Salem, Bayt Al-Hikma,
Baghdad, 2002, p. 126.
